Stinking Mudi River worries environmental activist

Environmental activist Godfrey Mfiti has bemoaned mediocre environmental standards of the Mudi River in Malawi’s commercial city of Blantyre.

In an open letter addressed to Blantyre City Council (BCC), the activist has called on the council to take action on the current situation of the river arguing that it is creating unfriendly environment to people living around it.

“The smell from the Mudi River is making some residents of the city such as those along Mandala flats and other many areas uncomfortable to stay outside their homes,” reads part of the letter.

Mfiti added that current development is a clear infringement of environmental human rights of the residents of Blantyre arguing that every citizen in the country has a right to a clean environment as provided in the Environmental Management Act.

The activist also faulted BCC’s negligence which he said has triggered pollution from factories around the city.

Mfiti said in its current condition the river is a health risk for Blantyre residents.

“It does not need any rocket science to note that any disposal of waste or any pollution leads to major public health threats and environmental risks.

“There is evidence that some communities in other parts who use water from the Mudi River for bathing have reported developing skin rushes. They suspect this as a result using heavily polluted water by industrial waste from the Mudi River,” says Mfiti in the letter.

Mudi River flows out of the majestic Mudi dam near Blantyre with clean water and in small volume.

However, as the river flows through Makata industrial area the water becomes harmful with consignments of chemical discharge spewed from the industries lining the river banks.